On July 9, the Texas Board of Education held its first public hearing allowing the public to comment
on biology textbooks proposed for adoption. Local papers reported attendance at over 200. Nearly all
of the three dozen speakers defended the teaching of evolution against a report that disputed the
accuracy of the treatment of evolution in the 11 biology texts being considered for adoption in Texas,
according to the San Antonio Express-News.

On July 9, the Texas Board of Education held its first public hearing allowing the public to comment
on biology textbooks proposed for adoption. Local papers reported attendance at over 200. Nearly all
of the three dozen speakers defended the teaching of evolution against a report that disputed the
accuracy of the treatment of evolution in the 11 biology texts being considered for adoption in Texas,
according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Unlocking the Mystery of Life, a documentary about the “intelligent design” movement cowritten by Stephen C. Meyer, Director and Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute, is airing on individual PBS stations across the country.

Because NCSE has received many inquiries about Unlocking, we have added a section to our web site for information and opinions about it. Articles in this section are the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of NCSE.

Margaret "Betsey" Ott, Instructor of Biology at Tyler Junior College, Tyler, TX, has been elected President-Elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers. Betsey will assume the presidency in 2004. She is a long time NCSE member and supporter of evolution education. Other NCSE members who have served as president of NABT include Betty Carvellas, Joe McInerney, and Brad Williamson.

On June 23 the Louisiana Legislature adjourned its current session. Three proposed measures with anti-evolution implications died at that point. HCR50 and SB1125 never came up for consideration in their assigned committees. HB1782, forbidding the "printing and distribution of false or fraudulent material" was passed in committee, but tabled on the floor of the House of Representatives. Previous items on this page have further information about these measures.